Gene Watson’s Peers within the country music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as ‘the singer’s singer’ – and rightly so!
All of Gene Watson’s Peers, who were contacted by The Gene Watson Fan Site, during 2019, were most gracious with their time and words.
It is here, within this special part of The Gene Watson Fan Site, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from John Hogan, which he submitted to this site on Thursday 1 August 2019.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to John Hogan who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Sean Brady would also like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Mary Mooney at Press & Promotion for John Hogan (Mary Mooney is also a music columnist for ‘Ireland’s Eye’ Magazine), without whom this Gene Watson ‘Peer’s Quote’ from John Hogan would not have been possible.
John Hogan
This quote was submitted on Thursday 1 August 2019.
‘Gene Watson is a great interpreter of songs and music, with a depth and feel in all his lyrics.
He puts his heart and soul into the songs he sings and only Gene Watson can do this in his own inevitable and wonderful way.
What a legend, what a remarkable artist, what a gift to be blessed with.
Gene Watson, you are my hero‘
Thank you, John Hogan, for your support of Gene Watson.
About John Hogan…
John Hogan was born Johnny ‘John’ Hogan in Kilbeggan, County Westmeath, Ireland, on Sunday 31 August 1958 but has been living in Croghan, Rhode, County Offaly, Ireland for the last thirty years or so.
After completing his education, John Hogan worked as a supervisor in a peat briquette factory in Croghan, County Offaly.
Inspired by Jim Reeves (Monday 20 August 1923 – Friday 31 July 1964) and Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 – Thursday 1 January 1953), John Hogan dreamed of a singing career.
It was always John Hogan’s dream to get involved in showbusiness.
The opportunity came in 1987 when John Hogan used the money scheduled as the next instalment on his mortgage to finance the project in a local recording studio.
John Hogan recorded a demo tape of an old song that his mother had sung to him as a child, a song called called ‘Brown Eyes’. Airplay on local pirate radio stations in the Republic of Ireland, including Breffni Radio in County Cavan, and Radio West in County Westmeath, provoked considerable interest and led to John Hogan quitting his job to concentrate on a singing career.
John Hogan formed a band and, with the help of appearances on some major television shows and a great deal of hard work, he gradually built his reputation and gained successes in the Irish charts.
Such was the success of ‘Brown Eyes’ that it headed straight to the top of the Irish charts and remained at No.1 for several weeks.
It was there and then that John Hogan decided to pack in his day job as a supervisor with Bord-Na-Mona and embark on a full time career in music.
John Hogan played his first professional gig in The Border Inn, Castleford, in County Donegal, Ireland to a sell-out crowd and became one of the biggest names in Irish country music virtually overnight.
In 1987, John Hogan saw the release of his debut album, ‘My Feelings For You’ (K-Tel Records, 1987), which included the following tracks:
‘Oh, What A Love’ (written by Jimmy Ibbotson) / the original version of this track was recorded by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, who included it on ‘Hold On’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1987); Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s version of the track reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in early 1988
‘Calypso’, which was written by John Denver (Friday 31 December 1943 – Sunday 12 October 1997) / the original version of this track was recorded by John Denver, who included it on ‘Windsong’ (RCA Records, 1975); John Denver’s version of the track reached No.2 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1975
‘When You Get To Heaven’
‘Cottage In The Country’
‘My Feelings For You’ (written by John Hogan)
‘Brown Eyes’
‘Thank God, I’m A Country Boy’ (written by John Martin Sommers)
‘All I Have To Offer You Is Me’, which was written by Arthur Leo ‘Doodle’ Owens (Friday 28 November 1930 – Monday 4 October 1999) and Dallas Frazier (Friday 27 October 1939 – Friday 14 January 2022) / the original version of this track was recorded by Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020), who included it on ‘The Best of Charley Pride’ (RCA Records, 1969); Charley Pride‘s version of the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in August 1969
‘Lost To A Stranger’
‘Footprints In The Sands of Time’
‘At The End of A Long, Lonely Day’
‘An Irishman’s Dream’
John Hogan is a fan of John Denver (Friday 31 December 1943 – Sunday 12 October 1997), Hank Locklin (Friday 15 February 1918 – Sunday 8 March 2009) and Gene Watson, and has recorded many of their songs.
In addition to his interpretations of country music standards, John Hogan also has a passion for songwriting, and has written a number of original songs, including ‘My Feelings For You’ and ‘Turn Back The Years’, which were included on his first recordings for K-Tel Records.
John Hogan’s appearances extended to the United Kingdom, where he became very popular around the country music club circuit.
John Hogan is often referred to as the ‘Prince of Irish country music’, as well as the ‘Offaly Rover’.
In 1990, John Hogan joined the recording roster at Ritz Records, and saw the release, in 1991, of ‘Humble Man’ (Ritz Records, 1991), which included the following tracks:
‘Don’t Fight The Feelings of Love’, which was written by John Schweers (Saturday 12 January 1946 – Tuesday 28 May 2024)
‘Still Got A Crush On You’ (written by Paul Overstreet and Dean Dillon)
‘Walkin’ In The Sun’ (written by Jeff Barry)
‘She’s More To Be Pitied’, which was written by Carter Stanley (Thursday 27 August 1925 – Thursday 1 December 1966) and Ralph Stanley (Friday 25 February 1927 – Thursday 23 June 2016)
‘The Picture’
‘The Wreck of The Old No.9’, which was written by Carson Robison (4 August 1890 – Sunday 24 March 1957)
‘China Doll’ (written by Gerald Cannan and Kenny Cannan)
‘Let It Be You’
‘Humble Man’ (written by B. McPeake)
‘I’ll Be Gone’
‘Something’s Wrong’
‘Down By The River’
‘Follow Me’
‘Please Don’t Forget Me’
In early 1993, John Hogan achieved an ambition when Ritz Records decided that he should record an album in Nashville; ‘The Nashville Album’ (Ritz Records, 1993), which was released on Thursday 28 October 1993, included the following tracks:
‘Til The Mountains Disappear’
‘Walk Through This World With Me’, which was written by Sandra Noreen Seamons (Friday 31 May 1935 – Friday 22 August 2014) and Kay Jeanne Savage (passed away on Friday 18 December 2009)
‘Baby I’m Lovin’ You Now’
‘Morning Sun & Memories’ (written by Shunie Crampsey)
‘I’ll Give My Heart To You’
‘Stepping Stone’ (written by John Hogan)
‘Back Home Again’, which was written by John Denver (Friday 31 December 1943 – Sunday 12 October 1997)
‘Far Away Heart’
‘I Can’t Help It If I’m Still In Love With You’, which was written by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 – Thursday 1 January 1953)
‘You Can’t Take It With You When You Go’
‘Blue Moon of Kentucky’, which was written by Bill Monroe (Wednesday 13 September 1911 – Monday 9 September 1996)
‘Battle Hymn of Love’ (written by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz)
‘My Guitar’ (written by John Hogan)
‘Fallen Angel’
During the 1990s, John Hogan filmed an in-concert video, ‘My Kind of Country’, which was released on VHS and on DVD by Rosette Records, and which helped to increase his popularity, not only in his native Ireland, where he lives in County Offaly (near to the factory where he used to work), but also in the United Kingdom.
On Friday 17 May 1996, John Hogan saw the release of ‘Loving You’ (Ritz Records, 1996), which included the following tracks:
‘Let Me Love You’
‘Stand Up For Love’
‘Losing You Is New To Me’
‘Maybe Next Time’
‘Some Days Are Diamonds’
‘Loving You’
‘These Hills That I Call Home’
‘A Million Ways To Fall’
‘Back Street Affair’
‘The One I Love The Most’
‘I’ll Be Turning To You’
‘Circles’
‘Thirst For Love’
‘Like I Used To Do’
On Friday 1 October 1999, John Hogan saw the release of ‘The Very Best of John Hogan’ (Ritz Records, 1999), which included the following tracks:
‘Thank God, I’m A Country Boy’ (written by John Martin Sommers)
‘Walk Through This World With Me’, which was written by Sandra Noreen Seamons (Friday 31 May 1935 – Friday 22 August 2014) and Kay Jeanne Savage (passed away on Friday 18 December 2009)
‘An Irish Harvest Day’
‘Cottage In The Country’
‘Your Cheatin’ Heart’, which was written by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 – Thursday 1 January 1953)
‘China Doll’ (written by Gerald Cannan and Kenny Cannan)
‘My Feelings For You’ (written by John Hogan)
‘The Wreck of The Old No.9’, which was written by Carson Robison (4 August 1890 – Sunday 24 March 1957)
‘Turn Back The Years’ (written by John Hogan)
‘Red River Valley’ (traditional)
‘Back Home Again’, which was written by John Denver (Friday 31 December 1943 – Sunday 12 October 1997)
‘My Guitar’ (written by John Hogan)
‘I’ll Buy Her Roses’
‘Brown Eyes’
‘Stepping Stone’ (written by John Hogan)
‘Please Don’t Forget Me’
‘Still Got A Crush On You’ (written by Paul Overstreet and Dean Dillon)
‘Moonlight In Mayo’
‘I Know That You Know (That I Love You)’
‘Battle Hymn of Love’ (written by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz)
John Hogan was a label-mate on London-based Ritz Records along with legendary American country music artist, Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020). During this period, John Hogan continued to build a following in the United States and was asked to perform at Charley Pride‘s theatre venue, which was located in the city of Branson, Missouri.
John Hogan has toured the length and breath of Ireland, the United Kingdom and Scotland, and has also performed at country music events in Spain and Portugal.
However, there is one place which is etched in John Hogan’s mind, and that is the beautiful island of St. Lucia.
The people in St. Lucia have taken John Hogan to their heart and, following a No.1 hit single there with his own song, ‘Stepping Stone’ (written by John Hogan), they made John Hogan a ‘Freeman of St. Lucia’.
Every time John Hogan tours in St. Lucia, he is treated like royalty.
Over the years, John Hogan has shared the stage with a number of country music artists, including Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Daniel O’Donnell, Billie Jo Spears (Friday 14 January 1938 – Wednesday 14 December 2011), Mick Flavin, Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016), Philomena Begley, Roy Drusky (Sunday 22 June 1930 – Thursday 23 September 2004), Paddy O’Brien, Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013), Mary Duff, Claude Gray, and Gene Watson, whose hit version of ‘Paper Rosie‘, which was written by Dallas Harms (Thursday 18 July 1935 – Saturday 12 October 2019), inspired John Hogan to record an interpretation of the song in 2015.
In 2001, John Hogan saw the release of ‘Broken Silence’ (Beaumex Records, 2001), which included the following tracks:
‘I’m Gonna Change Everything’
‘Gonna Go Fishing’
‘Irish Home’
‘Long Line of Love’ (written by Paul Overstreet and Thom Schuyler)
‘Rhythm of The Falling Rain’
‘Offaly – My Country, My Home’
‘Rocky Mountain High’, which was written by John Denver (Friday 31 December 1943 – Sunday 12 October 1997) and Mike Taylor (Wednesday 21 July 1948 – Sunday 5 September 2010)
‘Bachelor Boy’
‘Only Sixteen’
‘Dream of Home’
‘Jet Plane’
‘Life Is For The Moment’
‘Be Mine’
‘Precious Memories’
‘Must Have Been Love’
‘Kelly’
On Monday 6 October 2003, John Hogan saw the release of ‘Something Good’ (Rosette Records, 2003), which included the following tracks:
‘Deep Water’, which was written by Fred Rose (Floyd Jenkins) (24 August 1898 – Wednesday 1 December 1954)
‘I’m Into Something Good’
‘Home Is Wherever You Are’ / this track featured guest vocals from Carmel Sheerin
‘Calm At The Centre of My Storm’
‘Dr. Beat’
‘A Mansion On The Hill’, which was written by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 – Thursday 1 January 1953) and Fred Rose (Floyd Jenkins) (24 August 1898 – Wednesday 1 December 1954)
‘My Young Dad’
‘That’s Alright, Mama’, which was written by Arthur Crudup (Thursday 24 August 1905 – Thursday 28 March 1974)
‘Lean On Me’
‘My Very Life’
‘I Don’t Believe You’ve Met My Baby’ / this track was a duet with Carmel Sheerin
‘I Won’t Take Less Than Your Love’ (written by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz)
‘Springtime In The Mountains’
‘I’m Not That Good At Goodbye’, which was written by Don Williams (Saturday 27 May 1939 – Friday 8 September 2017) and Bob McDill
‘What They All Call Love’
‘Special Love’
On Monday 22 May 2006, John Hogan saw the release of ‘Where I Come From’ (Rosette Records, 2006), which included the following tracks:
‘I Loved Her’
‘From Here To There To You’
‘My Wild Irish Rose’
‘My Old Hometown’
‘Green Hills Round Ferbane’
‘Galway Girl’
‘The Old Bog Road’
‘Heartbreak Hill’
‘I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen’ (written by Thomas P. Westendorf)
‘Long Gone Are The Days’
‘My Old Homestead’
‘Where I Come From’
‘Candle & Wine’
‘My Old Home In Mayo’
‘Solid As A Rock’
‘Wearing White’ / this track was a duet with Noreen Rabbitte
On Tuesday 3 July 2012, John Hogan saw the release of ‘The Ultimate Collection: 25th Anniversary’ (Rosette Records, 2012), a 3-CD box set, which included the following tracks:
Disc 1
‘Peaceful Easy Feeling’ (written by Jack Tempchin)
‘Back Home Again’, which was written by John Denver (Friday 31 December 1943 – Sunday 12 October 1997)
‘If I Didn’t Have A Dime’
‘Could I Have This Dance’, which was written by Wayland D. Holyfield (Sunday 15 March 1942 – Monday 6 May 2024) and Bob House
‘Catch The Wind’ (written by Donovan)
‘Follow Me’
‘Four Strong Winds’, which was written by Ian Tyson (Monday 25 September 1933 – Thursday 29 December 2022)
‘Bye, Bye, Love’, which was written by Felice Bryant (Friday 7 August 1925 – Tuesday 22 April 2003) and Boudleaux Bryant (Friday 13 February 1920 – Thursday 25 June 1987)
‘Maria’
‘Battle Hymn of Love’ (written by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz)
‘Wearing White’ / this track was a duet with Noreen Rabbite
‘Some Days Are Diamonds (Some Days Are Stones)’ (written by Deena Kaye Rose / Dick Feller)
‘Love You More’
‘Stepping Stone’ (written by John Hogan)
‘Sunday Morning Coming Down’, which was written by Kris Kristofferson (Monday 22 June 1936 – Saturday 28 September 2024)
‘Let It Be You’
‘What They All Call Love’
‘Alone With You’
‘That’s When I See The Blues’
‘Like I Used To Do’ (written by Pat Alger and Tim O’Brien)
Disc 2
‘Cottage In The Country’
‘Galway Girl’
‘Forty Shades of Green’, which was written by Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003)
‘Wild Irish Rose’
‘Moonlight In Mayo’
‘Charleville’
‘The Land That I Love’
‘Anna’
‘Irish Harvest Day’
‘Green Hills Round Ferbane’
‘White Rose’ / this track was a duet with Noreen Rabbite
‘The Old Bog Road’
‘Turn Back The Years’ (written by John Hogan)
‘My Old Sligo Home’
‘Offaly Rover’
‘Irishman’s Dream’
‘My Old Homestead’
‘I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen’ (written by Thomas P. Westendorf)
‘My Father’s Shoes’
‘Love Me When I’m Old’
Disc 3
‘There’s Gonna Come A Day’
‘Brown Eyes’
‘Walk Through This World With Me’, which was written by Sandra Noreen Seamons (Friday 31 May 1935 – Friday 22 August 2014) and Kay Jeanne Savage (passed away on Friday 18 December 2009)
‘Don’t Fight The Feelings of Love’, which was written by John Schweers (Saturday 12 January 1946 – Tuesday 28 May 2024)
‘Morning Sun & Memories’ (written by Shunie Crampsey)
‘My Feelings For You’ (written by John Hogan)
‘You Are My Sunshine’
‘I’ll Buy Her Roses’
‘You Can’t Take It With You When You Go’
‘The Wreck of The Old No.9’, which was written by Carson Robison (4 August 1890 – Sunday 24 March 1957)
‘Til The Mountains Disappear’
‘Faraway Heart’
‘Candle & Wine’
‘Humble Man’
‘The Picture’
‘Still Got A Crush On You’ (written by Paul Overstreet and Dean Dillon)
‘My Guitar’ (written by John Hogan)
‘Sadly Ever After’
‘I’ll Give My Heart To You’
‘I Loved Her So’
In 2014, John Hogan saw the release of ‘Buddy & Me’ (Irish Music, 2014), which included the following tracks:
‘Buddy & Me’
‘Golden Memories’
‘I’ll Be Home Soon’
‘Una Paloma Blanca’ (written by George Baker)
‘Never The Bride’
‘Carroll County Accident’, which was written by Bob Ferguson (Friday 30 December 1927 – Sunday 22 July 2001)
‘Somewhere Between’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016)
‘Thinking About You’
‘Queen Of The Waltz’
‘Picture of You’
‘The Humour Is On Me Now’
‘Secret of Living’
In 2015, John Hogan saw the release of ‘Back To Basics’ (Irish Music, 2015), which included the following tracks:
‘Dad’
‘Paper Rosie’, which was written by Dallas Harms (Thursday 18 July 1935 – Saturday 12 October 2019) / the original version of this track was recorded by Gene Watson, who included it on ‘Paper Rosie‘ (Capitol Records, 1977); Gene Watson‘s version of the track reached No.3 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1977, and No.1 on the Canadian RPM Singles Chart in 1977
‘In My Father’s House’
‘My Feelings For You’ (written by John Hogan)
‘Blowin’ In The Wind’
‘God’s Acres’
‘It Keeps Right On A Hurtin’
‘Turn Back The Years’ (written by John Hogan)
‘A Song For All Lovers’
‘The Side of The Road’
‘I Recall A Gypsy Woman’ (written by Bob McDill and Allen Reynolds)
‘Sunshine On My Shoulders’
‘Always By My Side’
In 2016, John Hogan saw the release of ‘From The Beginning: Collection One’ (John Hogan Independent Release, 2016), a 3-CD Box Set, which included the following tracks:
Disc 1
‘Oh, What A Love’ (written by Jimmy Ibbotson)
‘Please Help Me I’m Falling’, which was written by Donald Irwin Robertson (Tuesday 5 December 1922 – Monday 16 March 2015) and Hal Blair
‘Cottage In The Country’
‘Fifteen Years Ago’ (written by Raymond Smith)
‘My Feelings For You’ (written by John Hogan)
‘Brown Eyes’
‘Thank God, I’m A Country Boy’ (written by John Martin Sommers)
‘All I Have To Offer You Is Me’, which was written by Arthur Leo ‘Doodle’ Owens (Friday 28 November 1930 – Monday 4 October 1999) and Dallas Frazier (Friday 27 October 1939 – Friday 14 January 2022)
‘Lost To A Stranger’
‘Footprints In The Sands of Time’
‘At The End of A Long Lonely Day’
‘Irishman’s Dream’
‘Stranger In Our House Tonight’, which was written by Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004) / the original version of this track was recorded by Gene Watson, who included it on ‘Memories To Burn‘ (Epic Records, 1985)
‘Little By Little’
‘Darcy Farrow’
‘What God Has Joined Together’
‘Letters Have No Arms’
‘Last Night I Heard You Crying In Your Sleep’
‘Turn Back The Years’ (written by John Hogan)
‘Arms Full of Empty’
Disc 2
‘Border of The Blues’
‘Jeannie Norman’
‘Half A Heart’
‘Moonlight In Mayo’
‘Still Got A Crush On You’ (written by Paul Overstreet and Dean Dillon)
‘Down To The River’
‘Morning Sun & Memories’ (written by Shunie Crampsey)
‘The Wild Side Of Life’
‘Baby For Bobby’
‘The Offaly Rover’
‘Your Monkey Won’t Be Home Tonight’
‘Humble Man’
‘Don’t Fight The Feelings of Love’, which was written by John Schweers (Saturday 12 January 1946 – Tuesday 28 May 2024)
‘Walking In The Sun’
‘She’s More To Be Pitied’, which was written by Carter Stanley (Thursday 27 August 1925 – Thursday 1 December 1966) and Ralph Stanley (Friday 25 February 1927 – Thursday 23 June 2016)
‘The Picture’
‘Let It Be You’
‘Something’s Wrong’
‘Follow Me’
‘Please Don’t Forget Me’
‘Let Me’
Disc 3
‘An Irish Harvest Day’
‘I’ll Buy Her Roses’
‘Sadly Ever After’
‘The Leaving Side’
‘My Guitar’ (written by John Hogan)
‘Til The Mountain’s Disappear’
‘Walk Through This World With Me’, which was written by Sandra Noreen Seamons (Friday 31 May 1935 – Friday 22 August 2014) and Kay Jeanne Savage (passed away on Friday 18 December 2009)
‘Baby, I’m Lovin’ You Now’
‘I’ll Give My Heart To You’
‘Stepping Stone’ (written by John Hogan)
‘Back Home Again’, which was written by John Denver (Friday 31 December 1943 – Sunday 12 October 1997)
‘Far Away Heart’
‘Let Me Love You’
‘Home Is Wherever You Are’
‘My Young Dad’
‘Lean On Me’
‘I Know That You Know That I Love You’
‘Maybe The Next Time’
‘These Hills That I Call Home’
‘Let Me Be The First To Know’
On Friday 18 November 2016, John Hogan saw the release of ‘A New Beginning’ (Rosette Records, 2016), which included the following tracks:
‘Rollin Home’
‘Heartaches By The Number’, which was written by Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002)
‘More of You’
‘Longing For The Old Days’
‘Mary Ann, Love Is’
‘Lucky One’ / this track was a duet with Sarah Hogan
‘If I Only Had A Home Sweet Home’
‘Rainy Day Room’
‘Nanana’
‘My Heart’s Bouquet
‘When You Fall In Love (Everything’s A Waltz)’, which was written by Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021), Patsy Ann Bruce (Friday 8 March 1940 – Sunday 16 May 2021) and Ron Peterson / this track was a duet with Carmel Sheerin
‘Future Days’
(photo courtesy of Lorna Hogan)
On Friday 21 June 2019, John Hogan was a distinguished guest at a special gathering in Arás an Úachtarain (the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the Republic of Ireland, which is located off Chesterfield Avenue in the Phoenix Park in Dublin) to honour entertainers who have made a contribution to the Irish country music scene.
John Hogan stated that ‘It was a wonderful evening and I was honoured and privileged to be there. Sincere thanks to the hundreds of you for all the good wishes and kind comments, they are much appreciated’
John Hogan’s country music career has been an amazing journey, and John Hogan looks forward to entertaining in the years ahead and making many new friends and fans on his musical journey.
• Like John Hogan on Facebook